Toyota's Auris model, built at the firm's Derbyshire factory, has replicated its sales success in the UK across the rest of Europe.

Selling a record number of hybrid cars across Europe in 2014 the firm sold 888,000 cars - 4.6% more than the year before and way above its target of 865,000.

This is the result of our strategy to bring innovation and much stronger products to European customers.

— Karl Schlicht, Executive Vice-President of Toyota Motor Europe

Of this 888,000 sales figure, 178,000 were hybrid car sales - a car technology which is powered by a combination of electricity and petrol deemed to be more environmentally-friendly and fuel-efficient than conventional petrol and diesel cars.

The success of these models demonstrates how Toyota’s investment in British manufacturing, the quality of its UK-built products and the skills and commitment of the workforce are helping to deliver strong results in the heart of the European car market.

The Japanese manufacturer said that 2014 was its best performance for five years, achieving sales of 115,197, a 9% increase on 2013. The figure included all Toyota car models, as well as light commercial vehicles and cars sold under its luxury Lexis brand.